Each year it comes as inevitably as, well, winter, but yesterday the first snow of the year caught the transport system on the hop. Again.

A tentative sprinkling was all it took to bring chaos as commuters suffered long waits on freezing platforms and tailbacks on the roads.

One woman, 49, died when she stopped at Haresfield in Gloucestershire to help a 17-year-old driver after his car overturned on an icy road. Another vehicle then skidded into her.

The M23 from Surry heading into London was closed for two hours after a coach collided with two cars.

Hundreds of trains were delayed and dozens cancelled as the rail network was blighted by frozen points.

Network Rail said that the disruption was mainly due to the failure of the heating systems that are supposed to prevent freezing. Points failure struck at some of the network’s major hubs, including, in London, Clapham Junction, Waterloo and Wimbledon.

Other trains were left stranded after ice on the tracks caused power surges. An estimated 80,000 South West Trains users, a further 60,000 Southern customers and up to 200,000 Southeastern passengers were caught up in the disruption in the morning’s rush-hour, rail operators said. Several thousand passengers on One services between London and East Anglia were also affected.

Gerry Doherty, general secretary of TSSA, the transport union, said: “The number of failed track points is damning evidence that Network Rail did not take enough notice of the weather forecast.

“It’s quite disgraceful that at the first snow the trains come to a stop.”

A passenger group called on Network Rail to do everything it could to minimise the delays and for operators to improve the standard of information that they provide to passengers.

Jane Cobell, from Passenger Focus, said: “Many people were left on freezing platforms without any information. It’s understandable they would be extremely irritated.”

Forecasts last night suggested worse was to come for some areas, with Kent expected to be submerged beneath anything up to 15cm (6in) of snow. The Met Office has placed all but the North West of England on a severe weather warning for today.

Network Rail said that it was stepping up its efforts to insure that there was no repeat of points faults and delays.

A spokeswoman said that it was using a helicopter that can detect whether heating systems are active. An “anti-freezing vehicle” will also travel lines, breaking up ice and snow using serated feet and heated anti-freeze.

Passengers on London Underground were also faced with delays. London Underground blamed Metronet, the company that maintains the lines.

“Cold weather and a threat of snow were forecast and Metronet chose not to undertake the necessary prevention work overnight,” a spokesman said.

“This includes running special trains to clear snow and ice from tracks and junctions and having extra technical staff available.

“This failure to deal with the forecast cold weather led directly to much of the problems on the Tube this morning.”

But Metronet blamed London Underground, arguing that it had deemed the risk of severe weather to be small.

Motorists are being given a warning to leave extra time for journeys and to reduce their speed because of black ice and poor visibility. The Highways Agency said that it had mobilised 100 gritters in the South of England, and council vehicles were struggling to cover minor roads last night.

About 21 flights were cancelled in the morning at Heathrow. Other flights were delayed as aircraft were deiced. A handful of flights were cancelled at Gatwick.

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